What stands out worked out from the figures below

Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Reading	Bridgewater
People
Population	699Lowest	980Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8%	-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	51.1±7.6Lowest 19% above VT	57.1±8Highest 32% above VT
	Bridgewater and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9%	12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Reading and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.2%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4%	30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4%
	Bridgewater and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46%Highest VT: 43.8%	40.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7%	5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7%
	Bridgewater and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT	$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT
	Reading and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT	$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT	$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT
	Reading and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,754Highest 14% above VT	$3,418Lowest 32% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4%	59.7%±39.1Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Reading and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1%	14.8%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	85.4%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT	1976Highest same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 41% above VT	24 minLowest about the VT average
Work from home	22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9%	10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Reading and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.